Sign up to receive free email alerts when patent applications with chosen keywords are publishedSIGN UP

Abstract:

A control unit makes the slot control mechanism execute an failure
recovery operation to repeat the insertion operation and the ejection
operation alternately for a predetermined amount at a first point of time
when the below fact is found, if it is found that there is an error in
insertion operation or ejection operation of a slot control mechanism.
Afterwards, the control unit makes the slot control mechanism execute an
restoration operation for a predetermined amount after a second point of
time when the below fact is found, if it is found that the slot control
mechanism has returned to normal, thereby making the slot control
mechanism return to the state at the first point of time. Then, the
control unit makes the slot control mechanism execute the insertion
operation or the ejection operation again. With this arrangement, it is
possible to ensure reliable insertion operation or ejection operation.

Claims:

1. An optical disc apparatus for performing at least either reading or
writing of data from or to an optical disc, the optical disc apparatus
comprising: a housing; a slot control mechanism for executing an
insertion operation to place the optical disc from an outside to an
inside of the housing and an ejection operation to eject the optical
disc, which is placed in the housing, to the outside of the housing; a
detecting unit for detecting a state of the insertion operation and the
ejection operation of the slot control mechanism; and a control unit for
controlling the insertion operation and the ejection operation of the
slot control mechanism based on a detection result of the detecting unit;
wherein if it is found, based on the detection result of the detecting
unit, that there is an error in the insertion operation or the ejection
operation of the slot control mechanism, the control unit makes the slot
control mechanism execute an failure recovery operation to repeat the
insertion operation and the ejection operation alternately for a
predetermined amount at a first point of time when the above fact is
found; and if it is then found, based on the detection result of the
detecting unit, that the insertion operation or the ejection operation of
the slot control mechanism has returned to normal, the control unit makes
the slot control mechanism execute restoration operation for the
predetermined amount after a second point of time when the above fact is
found, thereby making the slot control mechanism return to the state at
the first point of time; and the control unit then makes the slot control
mechanism execute the insertion operation or the ejection operation
again.

2. The optical disc apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control
unit supplies driving power equivalent to the predetermined amount of
driving power, which is given to a loading motor of the slot control
mechanism after the first point of time during the failure recovery
operation, to the loading motor after the second point of time during the
restoration operation.

3. The optical disc apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the slot
control mechanism includes: a first element extending in a movement
direction of the optical disc as caused by the insertion operation or the
ejection operation; a transmission mechanism for transmitting driving
force of the loading motor from one end of the first element to the other
end of the first element by performing the driving force act along the
movement direction; a first lever element that is a lever-shaped element
rotating around a first axis, one end of the lever-shaped element being
coupled via a first joint to the other end of the first element, so that
force applied to one end of the lever-shaped element is transmitted
around the first axis to the other end of the lever-shaped element; a
second lever element that is a lever-shaped element rotating around a
second axis, one end of the lever-shaped element being coupled via a
second joint to the other end of the first lever element, so that force
applied to one end of the lever-shaped element is transmitted around the
second axis to the other end of the lever-shaped element; a second
element that is coupled via a third joint to the other end of the second
lever element and moves along the movement direction; and a lever that is
in contact with the second element and rotates as caused by the movement
of the second element, so that a top end of the lever moves the optical
disc along the movement direction.

4. The optical disc apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the detecting
unit is a switch which is located around the first axis of the first
lever element and enters an on state or off state according to whether or
not part of the first lever element comes into contact with the detecting
unit as caused by rotation of the first lever element.

5. The optical disc apparatus according to claim 3, wherein after the
execution of the failure recovery operation, the control unit determines
that the slot control mechanism has not returned to a normal state based
on the detection result of the detecting unit, stops supplying the
driving power to the loading motor; and makes the slot control mechanism
return to a disk insertion standby state which is a state of waiting to
receive the optical disc.

Description:

CROSS REFERENCES

[0001] This application relates to and claims priority from Japanese
Patent Application No. 2010-040094, filed on Feb. 25, 2010, the entire
disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

[0002] The present invention relates to an optical disc apparatus.
Particularly, the invention is suited for use in an optical disc
apparatus relating to a technique for loading a disc tray, on which an
optical disc is placed, into an optical disc apparatus housing or
unloading the disc tray from the optical disc apparatus.

DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART

[0003] A conventional optical disc apparatus (such as an information
recording reproduction device) is configured so that an information
recording medium such as an optical disc is loaded or ejected by driving
a loading motor. A conventional information recording reproduction device
is equipped with an extrusion sensor as an ejection detecting means for
detecting the existence of the optical disc and an insertion sensor as a
loading detecting means at an optical disc ejection completed position
and loading completed position. The conventional information recording
reproduction device is configured so that if the insertion operation of
the optical disc cannot be completed within a predetermined amount of
time, the conventional information recording reproduction device prompts
the optical disc to be moved in an ejection direction by repeating normal
rotation and reverse rotation of the loading motor (see Japanese Patent
Laid-Open (Kokai) Application Publication No. H3-280264 (FIG. 2)).

[0004] As another configuration, there is a slot-in type disc device. If a
control circuit built in a conventional slot-in type disc device cannot
receive an ejection completion signal even after the elapse of a
specified period of time since the start of the ejection operation, it
determines that an error in the ejection operation has occurred, and then
performs switch-back control. For this switch-back control, the control
circuit attempts to avoid the above-mentioned ejection operation error by
switching a rotation direction of the loading motor between an insertion
direction and an ejection direction (See Japanese Patent Laid-Open
(Kokai) Application Publication No. 2007-334953 (FIG. 11)).

SUMMARY

[0005] However, if the above-mentioned conventional information recording
reproduction device or slot-in type disc device (both of the devices will
be hereinafter collectively referred to as the "conventional optical disc
apparatus") has an error in the ejection operation, the ejection
operation may sometimes fail to return to normal even by repeatedly
changing the rotation direction of the loading motor. In this case, the
conventional optical disc apparatus cannot eject the optical disc itself
unless, for example, the device itself is taken apart. Therefore,
reliable ejection of the optical disc cannot be secured.

[0006] The present invention was devised in light of the above
circumstances and aims at suggesting an optical disc apparatus that can
secure reliable insertion operation or ejection operation.

[0007] In order to solve the above problems, an optical disc apparatus for
performing at least either reading or writing of data from or to an
optical disc is provided according to an aspect of the present invention,
wherein the optical disc apparatus includes: a housing; a slot control
mechanism for executing an insertion operation to place the optical disc
from an outside to an inside of the housing and an ejection operation to
eject the optical disc, which is placed in the housing, to the outside of
the housing; a detecting unit for detecting a state of the insertion
operation and the ejection operation of the slot control mechanism; and a
control unit for controlling the insertion operation and the ejection
operation of the slot control mechanism according to a detection result
of the detecting unit; wherein if it is found, based on the detection
result of the detecting unit, that there is an error in the insertion
operation or the ejection operation of the slot control mechanism, the
control unit makes the slot control mechanism execute an failure recovery
operation to repeat the insertion operation and the ejection operation
alternately for a predetermined amount at a first point of time when the
above fact is found; and if it is then found, based on the detection
result of the detecting unit, that the insertion operation or the
ejection operation of the slot control mechanism has returned to normal,
the control unit makes the slot control mechanism execute restoration
operation for the predetermined amount after a second point of time when
the above fact is found, thereby making the slot control mechanism return
to the state at the first point of time; and the control unit then makes
the slot control mechanism execute the insertion operation or the
ejection operation again.

[0008] According to the present invention, reliable insertion operation or
ejection operation can be secured.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0009]FIG. 1 is a plan view of a configuration example for an optical
disc apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0010]FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a case where a slot control mechanism
shown in FIG. 1 operates normally.

[0011]FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of slot control
processing.

[0012]FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a specific
processing sequence for jam handling processing.

[0013]FIG. 5 is a timing chart showing the on/off state timing of each
switch.

[0014]FIG. 6 is a plan view showing an operation example for the slot
control mechanism.

[0015]FIG. 7 is a plan view showing an operation example for the slot
control mechanism.

[0016]FIG. 8 is a plan view showing an operation example for the slot
control mechanism.

[0017]FIG. 9 is a plan view showing an operation example for the slot
control mechanism.

[0018] FIG. 10 is a timing chart showing the on-off timing of, for
example, switches at the time of the failure occurrence.

[0019]FIG. 11 is a timing chart showing the on-off timing of, for
example, the switches at the time of the failure occurrence.

[0020]FIG. 12 is a timing chart showing the on-off timing of, for
example, the switches at the time of the failure occurrence.

[0021] FIG. 13 is a timing chart showing the on-off timing of, for
example, the switches at the time of the failure occurrence.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0022] An embodiment of the present invention will be explained below in
detail with reference to the attached drawings.

(1) Configuration of Optical Disc Apparatus According to this Embodiment

[0023]FIG. 1 shows a configuration example for an optical disc apparatus
100 according to this embodiment. The optical disc apparatus 100 includes
a housing 14, a slot control mechanism, and a control unit 99.
Incidentally, regarding this embodiment, the outline of an optical
mechanism, a drive mechanism, and a signal processing unit will be
explained; and part of the slot control mechanism that mainly relates to
this embodiment will be illustrated in drawings and explained; and
diagrammatic representation and explanation of other parts of the slot
control mechanism have been omitted.

[0024] Firstly, the drive mechanism rotates an optical disc 1 located at a
storage completed position under the control of the control unit 99. The
optical mechanism irradiates the optical disc 1 with a light beam from a
light source under the control of the control unit 99 and performs at
least either reading or writing of data from or to the optical disc 1.
The signal processing unit controls signal processing with the optical
mechanism under the control of the control unit 99. The control unit 99
controls not only the drive mechanism, the optical mechanism, and the
signal processing unit, but also the slot control mechanism described
below.

[0025] The slot control mechanism places the optical disc 1 at the storage
completed position in the housing 14 (hereinafter referred to as the
"insertion operation") and ejects the optical disc 1 at the storage
completed position to outside of the housing 14 (hereinafter referred to
as the ejection operation). This slot control mechanism includes a
loading motor 3, a transmission mechanism 4, a first element 5, a first
lever element 7, a second lever element 9, a second element 12, and a
lever 13. When receiving supply of electric power, the loading motor 3 is
driven under the control of the control unit 99 and rotates an axis 3A in
one direction or the other direction. The first element 5 is an element
extending along movement directions (an insertion direction L1 and an
ejection direction L2) of the optical disc 1 as caused by the insertion
operation or the ejection operation. The transmission mechanism 4 makes
the power of the axis 3A act along the movement directions L1 and L2 from
one end of the first element 5. As a result, the power is transmitted to
the other end of the first element 5.

[0026] The first lever element 7 is a lever-shaped element that rotates in
R1 directions around a first axis 7A; and one end of the lever-shaped
element is mounted via a first joint 6 on the other side of the first
element 5. The first lever element 7 transmits the force acting on one
end of the lever-shaped element around the first axis 7A to the other end
of the lever-shaped element.

[0027] The second lever element 9 is a lever-shaped element that rotates
in R2 directions around a second axis 9A; and one end of the lever-shaped
element is coupled via a second joint 10 to the other end of the second
lever element 9; and the force applied to one end of the lever-shaped
element is transmitted around the second axis 9A to the other end of the
lever-shaped element.

[0028] The second element 11 is coupled via a third joint 11 to the other
end of the second lever element 9 and moves along the insertion direction
L1 and the ejection direction L2 according to the force applied from the
other end of the second lever element 9.

[0029] The lever 13 has an arm element 13B extending from an axis 13A side
and has a top end 13C. The lever 13 is in contact with part of the second
element 12; and as the second element 12 moves in the insertion direction
L1 and the ejection direction L2, the arm element 13B rotates around the
axis 13A in R3 directions. As a result, the top end 13C rotates in the R3
directions in contact with the outer circumference of the optical disc 1,
thereby causing the optical disc 1 to move in L1, L2.

[0030] The aforementioned housing 14 is provided with first to fourth
switches 8A to 8D. These first to fourth switches 8A to 8D are detecting
units for detecting positions moved by the insertion operation and the
ejection operation. The number of these switch is not limited to four,
and as many switches as possible may be provided as long as the same
function can be secured.

[0031] Each of the first switch 8A and the second switch 8B is provided
along the first axis 7A of the first lever element 7 and enters an on or
OFF state as caused by the rotation of the first lever element 7. The
first lever element 7 is provided with two protruding portions near the
axis 7A. Each of these protruding portions operates the first switch 8A
and the second switch 8B along with the rotation of the first lever
element 7. Incidentally, in this embodiment, the first switch 8A will be
also hereinafter referred to as SW1 and the second switch 8B will be also
hereinafter referred to as SW2.

[0032] The second switch 8B is a switch that is located around the first
axis 7A of the first lever element 7 and enters the ON state or the OFF
state depending on whether or not part of the first lever element 7 comes
into contact with the second switch 8B as a result of the rotation of the
first lever element 7. The second switch 8B is a detecting unit for
detecting that the optical disc 1 located at the ejection completed
position has been pushed for a predetermined amount into the housing 14.
If the second switch 8B enters the ON state, the control unit 99 drives
the loading motor 3 and starts the insertion operation. The first switch
8A is a detecting unit for detecting that the insertion operation has
been started and the first lever element 7 has further rotated for a
predetermined amount.

[0033] The third switch 8C is provided near the third joint 11 in the
housing 14. When the aforementioned second element 12 moves in the
insertion direction L1, part of the second element 12 comes into contact
with, and operates, the third switch 8C. Incidentally, in this
embodiment, the third switch 8C will be also hereinafter referred to as
"SW3."

[0034] The fourth switch 8D is provided near the axis 13A of the lever 13
in the housing 14. The fourth switch 8D enters the ON state or the OFF
state depending on a rotation position of the lever 13 in the R3
directions. The fourth switch 8D is a detecting unit for detecting
whether the optical disc 1 has been placed at the storage completed
position or not. Incidentally, the fourth switch 8D will be also
hereinafter referred to as SW4.

[0035] Furthermore, the slot control mechanism may be equipped with an
operation element 2 for forcing the optical disc 1, which cannot be taken
out by the ejection operation, to be removed out of the housing 14. This
operation element 2 may be, for example, a bar-like element extending
from outside of the housing 14 to inside thereof; and the bar-like
element is configured so that one end of the bar-like element is exposed
to outside of the housing 14 so that it can be operated externally, and
the other end of the bar-like element comes into contact with part of the
first element 5 and can press it into the housing 14. If such a
configuration is employed, further reliable ejection operation can be
secured.

(2) Disc Tray Storage State

[0036]FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a case where the slot control
mechanism shown in FIG. 1 operates normally. The state shown in FIG. 2
illustrates a state where the optical disc 1 is loaded by the slot
control mechanism to reach the storage completed position.

[0037] With the optical disc apparatus 100, the optical disc 1 in a state
located at the ejection completed position is pushed into the housing 14
to some extent. Then, the second switch 8B changes from the OFF state to
the ON state. Incidentally, when the optical disc 1 is located at the
ejection completed position, all the first to fourth switches 8A to 8D
are in the OFF state.

[0038] As the disc tray is pushed into the housing 14 until the second
switch 8B enters the ON state, the slot control mechanism starts the
insertion operation. Specifically speaking, as triggered by the change of
the state of the second switch 8B to the ON state, the control unit 99
drives the loading motor 3, so that the slot control mechanism starts the
operation to insert the optical disc 1.

[0039] The driving force of the loading motor 3 caused by rotation of the
axis 3A is applied by the transmission mechanism 4 to the first element
5. The first element 5 moves in the insertion direction L1 and rotates
the first lever element 7 around the first axis 7A in the R1 directions.
When the first lever element 7 rotates as described above, the second
lever element 9 coupled via the second joint 10 to the first lever
element 7 rotates around the second axis 9A. When the second lever
element 9 rotates as described above, the second element 12 coupled via
the third joint 11 to the second lever element 9 moves in the insertion
direction L1. As the second element 12 moves in the insertion direction
L1 as described above, the lever 13 in contact with the second element 12
rotates clockwise in the R3 direction.

[0040] As a result, the optical disc 1 is loaded in the insertion
direction L1 by the slot control mechanism and moves to the storage
completed position. When the optical disc 1 enters this state, the
aforementioned third and fourth switches 8C, 8d make the transition to a
specified state described later. The on or OFF state of each switch 8A to
8D will be explained later.

(3) Slot Control Processing

[0041]FIG. 3 shows an example of a processing sequence for slot control
processing. The slot control processing will be explained with reference
to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 described above as necessary. Firstly, the insertion
operation will be explained.

(3-1) Disk Insertion Standby State

[0042] The optical disc apparatus 100 is in a disk insertion standby state
of waiting for the optical disc 1 to be inserted. The optical disc
apparatus 100 is configured so that as the optical disc 1 located at the
ejection completed position is pushed for a predetermined amount into the
housing 14, the top end 13C of the lever 13 in contact with the outer
circumference of the optical disc 1 rotates counterclockwise in the R3
direction. As a result, the second element 12 in contact with part of the
lever 13 moves in the insertion direction L1. As the result of the
movement of the second element 12, the first lever element 7 rotates for
a predetermined amount in the R1 direction via the second lever element 9
coupled via the second element 12. When the first element 5 has rotated
for a predetermined amount in the R1 direction as described above, the
aforementioned second switch 8B firstly changes from the OFF state to the
ON state.

[0043] The control unit 99 executes standby processing until the second
switch 8B changes from the OFF state to the ON state as described above
(SP1). When the second switch 8B enters the ON state, the control unit 99
gives a command to drive the loading motor 3 (SP2) and executes the
standby processing until a certain period of time has elapsed (SP3).

(3-2) Detection of Driving Start Position of Loading Motor

[0044] Next, the control unit 99 judges whether or not a change of the
state of the first switch 8A (corresponding to SW1 in the drawing) from
the OFF state to the ON state is detected (SP4). The first switch 8A
enters the ON state when the first lever element 7 further rotates in the
R1 direction as a result of further loading of the optical disc 1 into
the housing 14 by driving the aforementioned loading motor 3.

[0045] If the control unit 99 detects that the first switch 8A has entered
the ON state, the control unit 99 executes step SP6 described below. On
the other hand, if the control unit 99 fails to detect the ON state of
the first switch 8A, the control unit 99 judges whether a certain period
of time has elapsed or not (SP5); and attempts to detect if the first
switch 8A has entered the ON state within the certain period of time.
However, if the control unit 99 fails to detect that the first switch 8A
has entered the ON state within the certain period of time, the control
unit 99 executes jam handling processing described later (SP100).
Incidentally, a point of time when it is found that there is an error in
the insertion operation (that is, a point of time when the jam handling
processing is executed) corresponds to a first point of time described
later.

[0046] Next, in step SP6, the control unit 99 judges whether a change of
the state of the third switch 8C (corresponding to SW3 in the drawing)
from the OFF state to the ON state is detected. The third switch 8C
changes from the OFF state to the ON state when the second element 12
further moves in the insertion direction L1 as a result of further
loading of the optical disc 1 into the housing 14 by driving the loading
motor 3.

[0047] If the control unit 99 detects the ON state of the third switch 8C,
it executes step SP7 described later. On the other hand, if the control
unit 99 fails to detect the ON state of the third switch 8C, the control
unit 99 judges whether a certain period of time has elapsed or not (SP5).
The control unit 99 attempts to detect if the first switch 8A has entered
the ON state within the certain period of time. However, if the control
unit 99 fails to detect that the third switch 8C has entered the ON state
within the certain period of time, the control unit 99 executes the jam
handling processing described later (SP100). Incidentally, the point of
time when it is found that there is an error in the insertion operation
(that is, the point of time when the jam handling processing is executed)
corresponds to the first point of time described later.

(3-3) Detection of Storage Completed Position

[0048] Next, in step SP7, the control unit 99 judges whether a change of
the state of the fourth switch 8D (corresponding to SW4 in the drawing)
from the OFF state to the ON state is detected (SP7). The fourth switch
8D enters the ON state when the top end 13C of the lever 13 further
rotates in the R3 direction as a result of further loading of the optical
disc 1 into the housing 14 by driving the loading motor 3.

[0049] If the control unit 99 detects the ON state of the fourth switch
8D, it terminates the slot control processing. On the other hand, if the
control unit 99 fails to detect the ON state of the fourth switch 8D, the
control unit 99 judges whether a certain period of time has elapsed or
not (SP5). The control unit 99 attempts to detect if the fourth switch 8D
has entered the ON state within the certain period of time. However, if
the control unit 99 fails to detect that the fourth switch 8D has entered
the ON state within the certain period of time, the control unit 99
executes the jam handling processing described later (SP100).
Incidentally, the point of time when it is found that there is an error
in the insertion operation (that is, the point of time when the jam
handling processing is executed) corresponds to the first point of time
described later.

[0050] In this embodiment, the slot control mechanism executes not only
the aforementioned insertion operation, but also the ejection operation
by executing each of the processing steps in reverse order. An
explanation of the ejection operation has been omitted because the
ejection operation is almost the same as the insertion operation, except
that the order is reversed.

(3-4) Jam Handling Processing

[0051]FIG. 4 shows an example of a specific processing sequence for the
jam handling processing. This jam handling processing is executed when
the situation occurs where the slot control mechanism can no longer
continue the insertion operation (or the ejection operation) of the
optical disc 1 during the execution thereof for any reason.

[0052] At the first point of time when it is found that there is an error
in the insertion operation of the slot control mechanism as described
above, the control unit 99 makes the slot control mechanism execute
failure recovery operation. This failure recovery operation is executed
by the control unit 99 to repeat the insertion operation and the ejection
operation alternately for a predetermined amount. Specifically speaking,
for example, the control unit 99 applies a driving voltage of a specified
pulse described later to the loading motor 3 and causes, for example, a
predetermined amount of normal rotation or reverse rotation (SP101).
After the execution of such failure recovery operation, the control unit
99 waits until a certain period of time has elapsed (SP102); and the
control unit 99 then attempts to detect if a target switch from among the
first to fourth switches 8A to 8D has entered the ON state (SP103). The
target switch herein mentioned means a switch based on which the control
unit 99 has determined that the jam handling processing should be
executed, and which should have entered the ON state. Incidentally, a
point of time when it is found that the insertion operation has returned
to normal corresponds to a second point of time.

[0053] If the control unit 99 detects that the target switch has entered
the ON state (SP103), that is, if the insertion operation or the ejection
operation of the slot control mechanism has returned to normal, the
control unit 99 makes the slot control mechanism execute restoration
operation for the above predetermined amount after the second point of
time. Specifically speaking, the control unit 99 supplies the
predetermined amount of driving current to the loading motor 3, thereby
causing the predetermined amount of reverse rotation or normal rotation
(SP104). Specifically, the control unit 99 supplies driving power, which
is equivalent to the predetermined amount of the driving power given
after the first point of time during the above failure recovery operation
to the loading motor 3 of the slot control mechanism, to the loading
motor 3 after the second point of time during this restoration operation.
Subsequently, the control unit 99 makes the slot control mechanism return
to the state of the above first point of time and then makes the slot
control mechanism execute the insertion operation or the ejection
operation. That is, the control unit 99 returns control to each of the
processing steps for executing the jam handling processing (in FIG. 3)
and starts executing each processing step in continuation with the step
at the first point of time. As a result, even if the execution of the
failure recovery operation has caused, for example, the switch 8B to
enter an unintended state, it is possible make it return to the original
state.

[0054] On the other hand, if the control unit 99 fails to detect that the
target switch has entered the ON state (SP103), it determines that the
slot control mechanism has not return to normal; and stops supplying the
driving power to the loading motor 3 (SP105) and makes the slot control
mechanism return to the disk insertion standby state of waiting to
receive the optical disc 1 (SP106).

(4) On-Off Timing of Each Switch during Normal Operation

[0055]FIG. 5 shows on-off timing of the first to fourth switches 8A to
8D. The example shown in the drawing illustrates an example of the
insertion operation and shows on-off timing of the first switch 8A (SW1),
the second switch 8B (SW2), the third switch 8C (SW3), the fourth switch
8D (SW4), and the loading motor 3 in descending order from the top.
Incidentally, each of FIG. 6 to FIG. 9 shows an operation example for,
for example, the slot control mechanism At the timing T1, T2, T3, T4 in
FIG. 5.

[0056] At the timing T1 shown in the drawing, the optical disc apparatus
100 is in the disk insertion standby state and waits for the optical disc
1 to be inserted into the housing 14. When the optical disc 1 is inserted
into the housing from this disk insertion standby state, it enters a
state shown in FIG. 6. This state corresponds to the state shown in FIG.
1. The optical disc 1 is pushed into the housing 14 in this state.

[0057] At the timing T2, with the optical disc 1 being pushed into the
housing 14 a predetermined amount, it is thereby detected that the second
switch 8B has changed from the OFF state to the ON state. The control
unit 99 receives a detection signal from the second switch 8B. At the
timing T3, the control unit 99 starts supplying a driving voltage to the
loading motor 3.

[0058] Next, At the timing T4, such driving of the loading motor 3
activates the slot control mechanism and it is shown that the first
switch 8A has changed from the OFF state to the ON state. If the optical
disc 1 is further loaded from this state, the optical disc 1 enters a
state of being inserted all the way into the housing 14 as shown in FIG.
7. This state continues until timing T5. At this timing T5, the fourth
switch 8D changes from the ON state to the OFF state. As a result, the
control unit 99 recognizes, based on a detection signal from the fourth
switch 8D, that the optical disc 1 is in the state of being inserted all
the way into the housing 14.

[0059] At the timing T6, the control unit 99 stops driving the loading
motor 3. At the timing T7, the control unit 99 drives the loading motor 3
to cause reverse rotation of the loading motor 3. At the timing T8, the
fourth switch 8D enters the ON state. After receiving the detection
signal from the fourth switch 8D, the control unit 99 recognizes that the
optical disc 1 is located at the ejection completed position. Then, At
the timing T9, the control unit 99 stops driving the loading motor 3. In
this state, the optical disc 1 is located at the ejection completed
position as shown in FIG. 8.

[0060] Next, the control unit 99 drives the loading motor 3 again At the
timing T10 and the fourth switch 8D enters the OFF state At the timing
T11. After receiving the detection signal from the fourth switch 8D, the
control unit 99 stops driving the loading motor 3 At the timing T12. In
this state, the optical disc 1 is located at the storage completed
position and the lever 13 is located at a specified standby position as
shown in FIG. 9.

(5) On-Off timing of Each Switch at the Time of Occurrence of Failure

[0061] FIG. 10 to FIG. 13 are waveform charts for explaining on-off timing
of, for example, each switch at the time of occurrence of a failure. If
the first switch 8A does not change from the OFF state to the ON state as
indicated with a dashed line for SW1 in FIG. 11 even after the elapse of
a certain period of time since the second switch 8B entered the ON state
and the control unit 99 started driving the loading motor 3 as shown in
FIG. 10, the failure recovery operation described earlier is executed.

[0062] In this failure recovery operation, the control unit 99 supplies
pulses to the loading motor 3 to cause normal rotation and pulses to
cause reverse rotation, for example, at a maximum voltage of 30 ms pulse
width as necessary time for the slot control mechanism to is slightly
operated (corresponding to the right side of a waveform relating to the
loading motor in FIG. 11).

[0063] As a result, if the slot control mechanism returns to the normal
state, the first switch 8A temporarily enters the ON state as shown in
FIG. 12. In this case, the control unit 99 temporarily causes reverse
rotation of the loading motor 3 to redo the slot control processing
sequence, executes the ejection operation, and makes the first switch 8A
return to the OFF state. If the optical disc 1 is made to return to the
ejection completed position in this way, the control unit 99 supplies the
driving voltage to the loading motor 3 again. It should be noted that the
optical disc 1 is made to temporally return to the ejection completed
position once because an unintended operation of the switches might be
caused by the aforementioned failure recovery operation and such the
state is necessary to be initialized.

[0064] On the other hand, if the slot control mechanism does not return to
the normal state, the first switch 8A does not enter the ON state as
shown in FIG. 13. In this case, the control unit 99 drives the loading
motor 3 to reversely rotate for the amount driven during the failure
recovery operation, and then stops the loading motor 3. In other words,
the control unit 99 stops the entire operation of the slot control
mechanism. Incidentally, the insertion operation has been taken as an
example in the above explanation; however, the ejection operation can be
also realized by almost the same procedures, except the order of the
processing steps for the insertion operation is reversed for the ejection
operation.

(6) Advantageous Effects of This Embodiment

[0065] With the optical disc apparatus 100 according to the above
embodiment as described above, if it s found based on the detection
result by, for example, each switch 8A serving as the detecting unit that
there is an error in the insertion operation or the ejection operation of
the slot control mechanism, the control unit 99 makes the slot control
mechanism execute the failure recovery operation to repeat the insertion
operation and the ejection operation alternately for a predetermined
amount at the first point of time when the above fact is found.
Subsequently, if it is found based on the detection result of, for
example, each switch 8A that the insertion operation or the ejection
operation of the slot control mechanism has returned to normal, the
control unit 99 makes the slot control mechanism execute the restoration
operation for the predetermined amount after the second point of time
when the above fact is found, thereby making the slot control mechanism
return to the state at the first point of time; and then the control unit
99 makes the slot control mechanism execute the insertion operation or
the ejection operation again.

[0066] If such a configuration is employed, even if a minor failure
occurs, it is possible to recover from the failure and secure at least
either reliable insertion operation or ejection operation. Furthermore,
the optical disc apparatus 100 can return to the first point of time when
it was found that the failure occurred in the slot control mechanism; and
can make the slot control mechanism to the state at the first point of
time and then drive the slot control mechanism. Therefore, it is
unnecessary to resume the operation of the slot control mechanism from an
unintended state.

[0067] Moreover, in this embodiment, the control unit 99 supplies the
driving power equivalent to the predetermined amount of driving power,
which was given after the first point of time during the failure recovery
operation to the loading motor 3 of the slot control mechanism, to the
loading motor 3 after the second point of time during the restoration
operation. As a result, even if, for example, the switch 8B has entered
an unintended state due to the execution of the failure recovery
operation, it is possible to make it return to the original state.

[0068] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the slot control mechanism
includes: the first element 5 extending along the movement direction of
the optical disc 1 as caused by the insertion operation or the ejection
operation; the transmission mechanism 4 for transmitting the driving
force of the loading motor 3 from one end of the first element 5 to the
other end of the first element 5 by making the driving force act along
the movement directions L1 and L2; the first lever element 7 that is a
lever-shaped element which rotates around the first axis 7A, and whose
one end is coupled via the first joint 6 to the other end of the first
element 7, so that the force applied to one end of the lever-shaped
element is transmitted around the first axis 7A to the other end of the
lever-shaped element; the second lever element 9 that is a lever-shaped
element which rotates around the second axis 10, and whose one end is
coupled via the second joint 10 to the other end of the second lever
element 9, so that the force applied to one end of the lever-shaped
element is transmitted around the second axis 10 to the other end of the
lever-shaped element; the second element 12 which is coupled via the
third joint to the other end of the second lever element 9 and moves
along the movement directions L1 and L2; and the lever 13 which is in
contact of the second element 12 and rotates as caused by the movement of
the second element 12, so that a top end of the lever 13 moves the
optical disc 1 along the movement directions L1 and L2.

[0069] With this arrangement, it is possible to ensure reliable insertion
operation or ejection operation on the optical disc apparatus 100, even
if the slot control mechanism is configured as described above.

[0070] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the second switch 8B is a switch
which is located around the first axis 7A of the first lever element 7
and enters the ON state or the OFF state depending on whether or not part
of the first lever element 7 comes into contact with the second switch 8B
as caused by the rotation of the first lever element 7.

[0071] Also, in this embodiment, after the execution of the failure
recovery operation, the control unit 99 determines that the slot control
mechanism has not returned to normal based on the detection result of the
switch 8A etc., stops supplying the driving power to the loading motor 3;
and makes the slot control mechanism return to the disk insertion standby
state of waiting to receive the optical disc 1.

(7) Other Embodiments

[0072] The above embodiment is an example given for the purpose of
describing the present invention, and it is not intended to limit the
invention only to these embodiment. Accordingly, the present invention
can be utilized in various ways unless the utilizations depart from the
gist of the invention. For example, processing sequences of various
programs have been explained sequentially in the embodiment described
above; however, the order of the processing sequences is not particularly
limited to that described above. Therefore, unless any conflicting
processing result is obtained, the order of processing may be rearranged
or concurrent operations may be performed. On an aside, the
aforementioned embodiment mainly describes a case where the present
embodiment is applied to the insertion operation, however, the present
embodiment can be applied to the ejection operation as well except the
processing order is opposite.